Ben Hazell
@benhazell.bsky.social
Dad. Lead content designer at GDS.
Reposted by Ben Hazell
In one sense, this is democratisation - those with money have always been able to play games with the law, spending way more to avoid a parking ticket they feel they don't deserve than the actual fine, etc.
Now, AI slop means everyone can waste official time, regardless of their wealth.
Now, AI slop means everyone can waste official time, regardless of their wealth.
February 14, 2026 at 11:38 AM
In one sense, this is democratisation - those with money have always been able to play games with the law, spending way more to avoid a parking ticket they feel they don't deserve than the actual fine, etc.
Now, AI slop means everyone can waste official time, regardless of their wealth.
Now, AI slop means everyone can waste official time, regardless of their wealth.
Reposted by Ben Hazell
The final item of this article feels like another early rumbling of something bigger – public services are getting swamped with AI-generated complaints and appeals, often citing fictitious legal precedents etc.
It’s already a serious headache and it’s only going to get worse.
It’s already a serious headache and it’s only going to get worse.
London’s got a global viral video malaise www.londoncentric.media/p/london-cri...
Londoners are sick of viral videos telling lies about their city
Plus: Victoria Park battle over All Points East, the Hackney school war that wasn't, the AI-generated parking appeal mess, and wild swimming in the River Thames.
www.londoncentric.media
February 14, 2026 at 11:28 AM
The final item of this article feels like another early rumbling of something bigger – public services are getting swamped with AI-generated complaints and appeals, often citing fictitious legal precedents etc.
It’s already a serious headache and it’s only going to get worse.
It’s already a serious headache and it’s only going to get worse.
Reposted by Ben Hazell
Not today's main point, but I do find it odd that ministers are signalling their support of Keir Starmer - pretty important as their silence is interpreted as a sign they might quit and force him to resign! - by... posting on X.
You know, the site condemned for being an AI porn hellscape last month
You know, the site condemned for being an AI porn hellscape last month
February 9, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Not today's main point, but I do find it odd that ministers are signalling their support of Keir Starmer - pretty important as their silence is interpreted as a sign they might quit and force him to resign! - by... posting on X.
You know, the site condemned for being an AI porn hellscape last month
You know, the site condemned for being an AI porn hellscape last month
Reposted by Ben Hazell
jeffrey epstein being the first domino for the financial crash, video game micro transactions, and Gamergate is making me lose my mind
February 6, 2026 at 3:57 AM
jeffrey epstein being the first domino for the financial crash, video game micro transactions, and Gamergate is making me lose my mind
Reposted by Ben Hazell
A staggering statement from former Washington Post editor Marty Baron: "This ranks among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations."
February 4, 2026 at 2:34 PM
A staggering statement from former Washington Post editor Marty Baron: "This ranks among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations."
Reposted by Ben Hazell
New: Together with colleagues I’ve been testing Grok.
The chatbot still produces sexualized images —
even when told the subjects don’t consent.
even when told the photos will be used for public humiliation.
even when told the subjects are survivors of abuse.
www.reuters.com/business/des...
The chatbot still produces sexualized images —
even when told the subjects don’t consent.
even when told the photos will be used for public humiliation.
even when told the subjects are survivors of abuse.
www.reuters.com/business/des...
Exclusive: Despite new curbs, Elon Musk’s Grok at times produces sexualized images - even when told subjects didn’t consent
Elon Musk’s flagship artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, continues to generate sexualized images of people even when users explicitly warn that the subjects do not consent, Reuters has found.
www.reuters.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:37 AM
New: Together with colleagues I’ve been testing Grok.
The chatbot still produces sexualized images —
even when told the subjects don’t consent.
even when told the photos will be used for public humiliation.
even when told the subjects are survivors of abuse.
www.reuters.com/business/des...
The chatbot still produces sexualized images —
even when told the subjects don’t consent.
even when told the photos will be used for public humiliation.
even when told the subjects are survivors of abuse.
www.reuters.com/business/des...
Reposted by Ben Hazell
Don was taken into custody by federal agents last night in Los Angeles.
January 30, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Don was taken into custody by federal agents last night in Los Angeles.
Reposted by Ben Hazell
Jew in Amsterdam here. Please use Anne Frank as a comparison point to explain how state persecution of scapegoats impacts children, that is the point of her example, thanks
The Minnesota governor is getting widespread criticism for comparing children dealing with immigration enforcement to Holocaust victim Anne Frank.
Tim Walz condemned for comparing Minnesota children to Anne Frank
The Minnesota governor is getting widespread criticism for comparing children dealing with immigration enforcement to Holocaust victim Anne Frank.
bit.ly
January 28, 2026 at 8:10 AM
Jew in Amsterdam here. Please use Anne Frank as a comparison point to explain how state persecution of scapegoats impacts children, that is the point of her example, thanks
Reposted by Ben Hazell
🚨This is the new TikTok Privacy Policy I found on Reddit. Read it & pass this on. Looks like they can pull from USER CONTENT race, religious beliefs, mental/physical health diagnosis, sex life, status as transgender, citizenship/immigration status & more personal info.
January 23, 2026 at 7:56 AM
🚨This is the new TikTok Privacy Policy I found on Reddit. Read it & pass this on. Looks like they can pull from USER CONTENT race, religious beliefs, mental/physical health diagnosis, sex life, status as transgender, citizenship/immigration status & more personal info.
Reposted by Ben Hazell
NATO did not "stay a little back, off the front lines."
Danish, British and Estonian troops served in Helmand, and Canadian forces in Kandahar - the two most dangerous Afghan provinces.
Denmark, UK, Estonia & Canada suffered amongst the highest per‑capita soldier death rates when defending the US.
Danish, British and Estonian troops served in Helmand, and Canadian forces in Kandahar - the two most dangerous Afghan provinces.
Denmark, UK, Estonia & Canada suffered amongst the highest per‑capita soldier death rates when defending the US.
Trump on NATO: "I've always said, will they be there if we ever needed them? That's really the ultimate test. I'm not sure of that. We've never needed them. They'll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan and this or that. And they did. They stayed a little back, off the front lines."
January 22, 2026 at 2:02 PM
NATO did not "stay a little back, off the front lines."
Danish, British and Estonian troops served in Helmand, and Canadian forces in Kandahar - the two most dangerous Afghan provinces.
Denmark, UK, Estonia & Canada suffered amongst the highest per‑capita soldier death rates when defending the US.
Danish, British and Estonian troops served in Helmand, and Canadian forces in Kandahar - the two most dangerous Afghan provinces.
Denmark, UK, Estonia & Canada suffered amongst the highest per‑capita soldier death rates when defending the US.
Reposted by Ben Hazell
EXCLUSIVE: Leaked WhatsApp messages show Labour MPs urging govt to leave X, arguing that it should "show direction to others in the UK"
The MPs said X owner Elon Musk is "fascist" and that the platform's AI tool, Grok, had put "children in harm's way"
The MPs said X owner Elon Musk is "fascist" and that the platform's AI tool, Grok, had put "children in harm's way"
January 9, 2026 at 2:20 PM
EXCLUSIVE: Leaked WhatsApp messages show Labour MPs urging govt to leave X, arguing that it should "show direction to others in the UK"
The MPs said X owner Elon Musk is "fascist" and that the platform's AI tool, Grok, had put "children in harm's way"
The MPs said X owner Elon Musk is "fascist" and that the platform's AI tool, Grok, had put "children in harm's way"
Reposted by Ben Hazell
The world's richest man runs a subscription-based automated service that removes clothing from photographs of children.
Now only paying subscribers can make violent non-consenual sexual imagery of women and children -
Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI imagery www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI imagery www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI imagery
X to limit editing function to paying subscribers after platform threatened with fines and regulatory action
www.theguardian.com
January 9, 2026 at 7:58 AM
The world's richest man runs a subscription-based automated service that removes clothing from photographs of children.
Reposted by Ben Hazell
I call on my party and my government to remove themselves entirely from X and communicate with the public where they actually participate online and can be protected from such illegality.
January 8, 2026 at 12:31 PM
I call on my party and my government to remove themselves entirely from X and communicate with the public where they actually participate online and can be protected from such illegality.
Reposted by Ben Hazell
I understand the pressures on the BBC, but Radio 4's coverage of the Minneapolis shooting is an example of "bad balance".
It's all "the Trump regime says she was a terrorist, but Democrats say it was murder".
The BBC has the footage. It doesn't have to treat truth and falsehood as equally valid.
It's all "the Trump regime says she was a terrorist, but Democrats say it was murder".
The BBC has the footage. It doesn't have to treat truth and falsehood as equally valid.
January 8, 2026 at 8:38 AM
I understand the pressures on the BBC, but Radio 4's coverage of the Minneapolis shooting is an example of "bad balance".
It's all "the Trump regime says she was a terrorist, but Democrats say it was murder".
The BBC has the footage. It doesn't have to treat truth and falsehood as equally valid.
It's all "the Trump regime says she was a terrorist, but Democrats say it was murder".
The BBC has the footage. It doesn't have to treat truth and falsehood as equally valid.
Reposted by Ben Hazell
If you missed this question to Nigel Farage from The Critic's Rob Hutton – and it was over an hour into the press conference – then it was a particularly good one. The answer was... vague.
January 7, 2026 at 11:50 AM
If you missed this question to Nigel Farage from The Critic's Rob Hutton – and it was over an hour into the press conference – then it was a particularly good one. The answer was... vague.
Reposted by Ben Hazell
Ofcom, which enforces the UK's Online Safety Act, says it is aware of "serious concerns" about Grok undressing people including children on X
“We have made urgent contact with X and xAI to understand what steps they have taken to comply with their legal duties to protect users in the UK," it says
“We have made urgent contact with X and xAI to understand what steps they have taken to comply with their legal duties to protect users in the UK," it says
January 5, 2026 at 2:27 PM
Ofcom, which enforces the UK's Online Safety Act, says it is aware of "serious concerns" about Grok undressing people including children on X
“We have made urgent contact with X and xAI to understand what steps they have taken to comply with their legal duties to protect users in the UK," it says
“We have made urgent contact with X and xAI to understand what steps they have taken to comply with their legal duties to protect users in the UK," it says
Reposted by Ben Hazell
Went to check if this screenshot (posted by @aric.bsky.social) was real (it is) and then made the mistake of also scrolling through Grok's replies on X. Still constantly cranking out sexualised images of young girls. Beyond bleak.
January 5, 2026 at 11:22 AM
Went to check if this screenshot (posted by @aric.bsky.social) was real (it is) and then made the mistake of also scrolling through Grok's replies on X. Still constantly cranking out sexualised images of young girls. Beyond bleak.
Then - Team Fortress, the Half-Life mod.
With heavy sides of Dungeon Keeper, Total Annihilation, and Shogun: Total War
Now - All surpassed, but it's Dungeon Keeper I look back on most fondly.
With heavy sides of Dungeon Keeper, Total Annihilation, and Shogun: Total War
Now - All surpassed, but it's Dungeon Keeper I look back on most fondly.
Quote this with your favourite game from 2000 NOW, and what your favourite was THEN (if you had one)
Localisations count, remasters/ports don't. Remakes depend.
Two-way ties count.
For a fuller refresher: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
Localisations count, remasters/ports don't. Remakes depend.
Two-way ties count.
For a fuller refresher: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
January 4, 2026 at 9:12 PM
Then - Team Fortress, the Half-Life mod.
With heavy sides of Dungeon Keeper, Total Annihilation, and Shogun: Total War
Now - All surpassed, but it's Dungeon Keeper I look back on most fondly.
With heavy sides of Dungeon Keeper, Total Annihilation, and Shogun: Total War
Now - All surpassed, but it's Dungeon Keeper I look back on most fondly.
Reposted by Ben Hazell
The government needs to shift to subsidising cooling heat pumps instead of only ones that heat. With warmer and more uncomfortable summers it’s a real benefit. Middle class much more likely to contribute more if their homes are cooled in the summer as well as heated in the winter.
December 30, 2025 at 3:23 PM
The government needs to shift to subsidising cooling heat pumps instead of only ones that heat. With warmer and more uncomfortable summers it’s a real benefit. Middle class much more likely to contribute more if their homes are cooled in the summer as well as heated in the winter.
Reposted by Ben Hazell
🐧🧊 Incredible underwater footage of penguin life, shot from the first person of one of them.
🇺🇦 This beauty was captured thanks to Ukrainian scientists from the Vernadsky Station in Antarctica, who put a GPS tracker and a tiny camera on the bird.
🇺🇦 This beauty was captured thanks to Ukrainian scientists from the Vernadsky Station in Antarctica, who put a GPS tracker and a tiny camera on the bird.
December 29, 2025 at 4:52 PM
🐧🧊 Incredible underwater footage of penguin life, shot from the first person of one of them.
🇺🇦 This beauty was captured thanks to Ukrainian scientists from the Vernadsky Station in Antarctica, who put a GPS tracker and a tiny camera on the bird.
🇺🇦 This beauty was captured thanks to Ukrainian scientists from the Vernadsky Station in Antarctica, who put a GPS tracker and a tiny camera on the bird.
Reposted by Ben Hazell
Rian Johnson is really good at morality plays
Knives out: the upper middle class are squabbling vicious children who do not deserve their inheritance
Glass onion: the new elite are the stupidest murderous cunts alive and deserve your scorn
Wake up dead man: those preaching anger as salvation are leading you to death, hope and kindness matter
Glass onion: the new elite are the stupidest murderous cunts alive and deserve your scorn
Wake up dead man: those preaching anger as salvation are leading you to death, hope and kindness matter
December 29, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Rian Johnson is really good at morality plays
Reposted by Ben Hazell
Sir Terry Pratchett is best understood as one of the most interesting, deeply ethical practical (I would say Pragmatist but I cede to actual experts) philosophers of the late 20th Century who just happened to work in deconstructed fantasy literature as his medium.
Discworld QOTD, from Hogfather
December 25, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Sir Terry Pratchett is best understood as one of the most interesting, deeply ethical practical (I would say Pragmatist but I cede to actual experts) philosophers of the late 20th Century who just happened to work in deconstructed fantasy literature as his medium.
Reposted by Ben Hazell
As you may know, I have stopped using Twitter, and have decided to reproduce some of my more memorable threads here for posterity. Here’s one I hold wrote after a particularly engaging swordfighting lesson.
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
a man reading a book to a young boy
Alt: a man reading a book to a young boy
media.tenor.com
June 5, 2025 at 11:20 AM
As you may know, I have stopped using Twitter, and have decided to reproduce some of my more memorable threads here for posterity. Here’s one I hold wrote after a particularly engaging swordfighting lesson.
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
Reposted by Ben Hazell
Good and important piece by @chrisgiles.ft.com. One implication: if you look at the revised figures for 2014-5, then frankly any talk that 2015 was a 'shock' win for David Cameron starts to look really silly and you just go 'oh yeah, figures': www.ft.com/content/5aff...
The UK economy is not nearly as bad as you’ve been told
A huge pessimistic bias in our national accounts leads us to doom and gloom which turns out to be nonsense
www.ft.com
December 12, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Good and important piece by @chrisgiles.ft.com. One implication: if you look at the revised figures for 2014-5, then frankly any talk that 2015 was a 'shock' win for David Cameron starts to look really silly and you just go 'oh yeah, figures': www.ft.com/content/5aff...